Tip for laces or the like



Feb. 17 1931. o. 1. HOPPE ET AL 1,792,640

TIP FOR LACES OR THE LIKE Filed April 25, 1928 a JJ/WJ Gum/" awvwmm I Patented Feb. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES OLGA I. HOPPE AND BORIS B. HOPPE, F KEW GARDENS, NEW YORK; SAID OLGA I.

PATENT oFFicE HOIPI'E ASSIGNOR T0 SAID BORIS B. HOPPE TIP FOR LACES CIR-THE LIKE Application filed April 25,

This invention relates to a tip for shoe laces, straps, cords, etc., which may be made of metal that can be folded and easily kept in the folded position, or the tips can be made of other hard materials that have properties that will adapt them for this purpose. The invention is especially useful in connection with tips for shoe laces, but is not restricted to this use as the tips can be used on other pieces of flexible soft material and can be adjusted to different positions on the material.

The invention will be understood from the description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 1s a plan View of an illustrative embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a section along the line 22 of Fig. 1, with the material partially folded and showing a lace in place ;'Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the tip completely folded; Fig. 4: is a plan View of a modification; Fig. 5 isa plan view of a second modificat1on; Fig. 61s an edge View of Fig. 5, partly in sect1on;F g. 7 is a side view showing a modification of Fig. 5 in its folded position; Figs. 8, 9 and are plan views showing other modifications; Fig. 11 is an edge view showing a modification of Fig. 10 in its folded position; Fig. 121s a plan view of another modification; and Fig. 1 3 is an edge view showing it in its folded position.

In the drawings reference character 1 shows an elongated sheet of metal having its ends 2 and 3 slightly pointed. The sheet is provided with a central opening or hole 4 and holes 5 and 6 intermediate its central portion and the ends. The sheet is notched on both sides as indicated at 7 so as to facilitate bending of the same along the dotted line 8.

The.operation is as follows: The sheet is bent along the line 8 approxnnately to the position shown in Fig. 2 and a strap or lace 9 is threaded through the hole 4, thence through the hole 5 over the end 2 across and over the end 3 through the hole 6, and thence through the hole 4 as indicated. The ends 2 and 3 are then pressed together and the lace is pulled 1928. Serial no. 272,611.

outwardly so that the same is drawn tightly around the ends 2 and 3 in the closed position as shown in F ig. 3. The portions of the strap extending through the hole 4 are tightly clamped against each other by the metal near the hole 4 so that the same are frictionally held, so that neither side of the folded portion of the lace or strip can slip. The projecting end 10 may be cut off close to the tip if desired.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the sheet of metal or the'like differs from that already described in that the holes 5 and 6 are dispensed with and notches or recesses 11 and 12 are provided at the ends around which the lace extends. the sheet is provided with recesses extending inwardly from opposite edges, as shown at 13 and 14:, leaving triangularly shaped extensions 15 and 16 around which the lace is passed instead of being threaded through holes. The operation is similar to'that already described except that the laces can be looped around the extensions 15 and 16 instead of being threaded through holes.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the sheet of material is provided at its middle with a rectangular opening 17 leaving lips or extensions 18. The ends of the strip are bent over and slightly curved as shown at 19 and 20. The material is also struck out as shown at 21 and 22 to provide hollow projections, oneof which is smaller than the other and will extend into it when the sheet is folded. At the" same time the curved end 19 will snap over the curved end to keep the k Instead of the holes '5 and 6, 4

The modification shown in Fig.8 is somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but instead of having the holes 5 and 6, somewhat L-shaped openings 23and 24 are provided to leave'\/-shaped extensions 25 and 26 around which the lace can be looped instead of being passed entirely around the ends of the device, thus preventing the flexible material from being exposed at the ends. 7

The modification shown in Fig. 9 is somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but another pair of holes 27 and 28 is provided between the holes and 6 and the ends of the device so that the laces can be threaded through them instead of around the ends of the device, thus prevei'iting the lace from being exposed at the end of the device.

In the modification shown in Figs. and 11, the ends 29 and 30 are shown coining T more nearly to av point than those shown in the modifications already described. In this incdiii aition an H-shaped opening 31 is provided at the middle leaving tongues 32 on opposite sides of the line 8 along which the device is to be bent. .This modification is especially suitable for laces that have already been provided with a tip as most clearly indicated in Fig. 11, in which the lace 38 provided with a tip 34 is enclosed in the folded device with the tongues 32 extending into contact with the sides of the lace 33. The inner end 35 of the tip on the lace 33 becomes wedged in the space 36 and is prevented from opening the device because of the tongues 32 contacting with the sides of the lace 33. V

In the modification shown in Figs. 12 and 13 the strip is provided with a central open ing 37 with serrated teeth 38 and the ends of the device may be either pointed or maybe square across as indicated at 39 and 40. The teeth 38 are bent backwards and the sheet folded across the center line 8 and thelace is inserted from the convex side as will be clear from Fig. 13, and when the sides are folded together the teeth 38 penetrate the lace and prevent the same from being drawn out in either direction.

We claim:

1. A tip for laces and the likecomprising a piece of metal folded upon itself and having an opening at the folded portion, the metal adjacent the opening being adapted to grip the lace.

A tip for laces and the like comprising a piece of metal folded upon itself and having an opening at the folded portion, the metal adjacent the opening being adapted to grip the lace, and means to cause the lace to hold the metalin its gripping position.

3. A tip for laces and the like comprising a piece of metal folded upon itself and having an opening at the folded portion, the metal adjacent the opening being adapted to grip the lace, said tip also having openings spaced from said first named opening through which the lace may extend.

i. A tip for laces and the like comprising a piece of metal folded upon itself and having an opening at the folded portion, the metal lace extending around said ends.

OLGA I. HOPPE. BORIS B. HOPPE.

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